Rash to delay Thomas’ Hammons Field debut

Springfield Cardinals right-hander Kevin Thomas apparently has developed a skin rash and will not make his scheduled start tonight against the Frisco RoughRiders.

Instead, right-hander Deryk Hooker will make his own Hammons Field debut in today’s 7:07 p.m. game. Hooker struck out 127 in 111.1 innings last season combined in the low Class A Midwest League and high Class A Florida State League. He has made one start so far this season, working 4.1 innings in which he allowed two runs on seven hits.

The coaching staff did not want Thomas pitching tonight while thinking about the rash, according to Springfield media relations director Jeff Levring.

We’ll have more after batting practice.

About Kary Booher

Kary Booher covers the Springfield Cardinals and small colleges for the News-Leader. A native of southern Kansas, he is a graduate (and former sports editor of student newspapers) of Cowley County (Kan.) Community College and Oklahoma State University. You also may have read his work on the sports pages in Topeka and Pittsburg in Kansas and Jackson, Tenn., or once saw him in his youth water-skiing on Table Rock Lake near the Kimberling City bridge.